"It was a short break with no preseason and everybody was back earlier than I am sure everybody would have expected for club matches, although that is entirely understandable," Southgate told reporters on Monday.

"We talked a bit after the World Cup about the demands of the modern player. Everybody has got to play a part in that but the clubs own the player and they have got to do the right thing for themselves.

"Normally we have not got opposing objectives and the clubs would be holding their breath and hiding behind their sofas watching our teams go out.

"But this is one of those occasions where what we want to look at with our squad ties in with doing the right thing with the players for our long-term benefit. So I thought this is a good opportunity to do it."

England have called up Leicester City duo Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray from the under-21s for the Switzerland friendly.